Snow Angel Part 13

"I don't believe you," Noah answered back, but he didn't sound certain.

"Don't you?" came the smooth reply. "Think about it. Doesn't it make some of the pieces to the puzzle fit?"

Elizabeth clenched her teeth, waiting for Noah's response. She jerked as she heard the gun go off.

"Get out of here and don't ever let me see you again. I'll kill you if you come near her."

She heard movement and then Ross's laugh farther off. "Sorry, she will never want you. I have what she wants and she will come to me for it." A short pause and another laugh, farther off, then a "I know her real name."

Elizabeth sat there in the tall weeds for a long time, waiting a feeling numb.

"Is it true?"

His voice was closer. She couldn't answer, couldn't even move.

Suddenly, he was grasping her by the shoulders, kneeling beside her. "Is it true? Did you lie about him being your husband? Did you agree to such a bargain with him and steal yourself a ticket to Alaska? Elizabeth, tell me."

She looked up into his eyes, tormented eyes, and saw the depths of the pain she had brought into his life. A sob broke from her throat. "Yes, yes, it's true. It's true and more."

He pulled her close, forcing her to hold his gaze. "Why?"

When she didn't answer, couldn't answer, just stared at him, he let go of her and backed away as if he'd touched something unclean. His last words slipped out in a whisper, fell to the ground with a dark thud and rolled through all her protective walls to pierce her heart.

"And to think I almost married you."

Scorching pain made her fall back. "And now you know why I wouldn't let you," she whispered.

NOAH RUSHED BACK to their camp, his breathing heavy and sick. What had he done? Chased a stranger halfway across a continent? Yes, a strangera"that's what she was. He could hardly contain his feelings. Looking up into the night sky he railed, "Why? What was all this for?" The stars twinkled back at him, so sure and bright in their creation.

Forgiveness is not for the good.

He hadn't heard the voice in a long time and didn't really want to hear it now. "Forgiveness? For what? Being someone she's not? For making me believe she was someone she's not?" He felt like shaking his fist but set his hands on his hips insteada"daring G.o.d to answer.

Seeing only what you wanted to see, perhaps?

Noah felt the words. .h.i.t to his core. Was it he that needed her forgiveness? Yes, she had lied to hima"broken his heart evena"but hadn't he stubbornly clung to what he thought Elizabeth should be instead of seeing her as she really wasa"a survivor of terrible circ.u.mstances. A woman with strengths that he had only seen as hardness, something to change and fix. It was just those circ.u.mstances that had made her who she was a and he loved who she was. Her fierceness a her vulnerability a her laughter and her face with laughter on it. Her determination to be strong a her elation when she was a her tears when she was weak and the willingness to let him see her weakness a her very self. Elizabeth. Then he realized a he loved her just as she was.

Before he had time to change his mind or even reason it through, he rushed back to the tall gra.s.s where he had left her.

She sat in the twilight, her knees up and her head down on them, her arms curled protectively around her legs. She looked so fragile, her slender shoulders weighted with burdens she should not be carrying, a burden he had added to. Something inside him broke, like a dam, and he felt a rush of compa.s.sion for her. Kneeling next to her he touched her gently on the shoulder, tears of his own making cold, wet tracks of sorrow and repentance on his cheeks.

She jerked up and away from him. "Go away a go back to Juneau where you belong." Her words were strong and he marveled at her strengtha"hard won and tempered like steel to a deadly sharpness. He smiled a slow, sad, happy smile, realizing that in knowing its source it could not pierce him. He remembered suddenly what she had last said to him, why she had lied about being married. "And now you know why I wouldn't let you," she had said. If she loved him at all, he suddenly understood what that lie must have cost her.

"Elizabeth a I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. It was the shock, and my own weakness. I haven't wanted to see the truth anymore than you've wanted to say it."

She stared up at him, confusion evident in the endless pools of her deep brown eyes.

"Listen to me," he said, "it doesn't matter. Not Ross or your past or anything else you could tell me. Elizabeth a I love you."

Suddenly Elizabeth was a she-cat, clawing and kicking at him. "Stop it! Don't say something you will regret."

He let her thrash for a moment and then quieted her in his strong embrace. "I won't regret it."

She stilled and then lashed out with a better weapon. "You don't know the half of it. What if I told you I've learned the backside of honesty like you know your land. Loving grandparents are for fairy tales, and profitable farms in Illinois are pipe dreams. Black, dark voids live in me where silent orphanages and parent slave owners dwell. I've stolen more than food or money or anything I could put my hands to. I've stolen courage and honest work from the backs of others. I've stolen truth from situations that weren't working to my advantage. I'm a past master at knowing how to work peoplea"get what I want from them. It's as natural as my breath, and I did it to you and Will and Cara and every living soul who has ever touched me. Ross said we were cut from the same cloth and he's right. Living with me would mean sucking the life out of you until you had nothing left to give." Her voice lowered to a mere harsh whisper. "I would use you a not love you."

He felt it again, that searing pain that connected him with her emotions. It was overwhelming, overpowering. With fresh tears in his eyes he whispered back, "Take it. Take my love a even unto my death. I'll give it all for you."

She let out a sob that turned into a wail. "I would destroy you," she choked out.

Taking her face between his hands he looked deeply into her eyes, willing her to believe him. "No a no you wouldn't. My love is strong enough for both of us. Let me love you a Elizabeth a the woman you are right here, right now. If I could take away the pain of your suffering I would, but I can't. All I can do is suffer it with you, help you carry it. Elizabeth, let me love you."

She gazed at him, unbelief in her eyes, for a long moment that seemed an eternity. A cool breeze blew in, drying their tears, bringing with it an unearthly calm. She breathed heavy and long breaths. "All right, Noah a but never say I didn't warn you."

He laughed long and loud, with a kind of relief that sent his heart soaringa"a victor's laugh. Stroking the top of her silky head, he pulled her into his arms. "It's going to be OK." He kissed the top of her head and squeezed her tight. "I promise."

January 16, 1896 Dear Mrs. Rhodes, I have received several responses from the many new advertis.e.m.e.nts regarding the reward, but nothing of substance. In reviewing my accounts, I am sad to report that I don't feel I am earning your generous payments. Would you like me to continue, dear ma'am? I could place advertis.e.m.e.nts in the newspapers of the far west. It is the only area of the country yet unturned.

My son Clyde marries this year. It is an event in the life of a child that I wouldn't want you to miss. Let us not give up hope.

I remain your devoted servant.

Sincerely yours, Jeremiah Hoglesby.

Private Detective for Hire.

Eighteen.

The room was poorly lit and thick with the smells of tobacco, sweat, and whiskey. Noah stalked over to the bar of The Grand Dame Saloon, a man on a mission. Ross's parting taunt of some hidden knowledge of Elizabeth's real name still rang in his earsa"he had to find out what Ross had alluded to. He was just about to question the bartender when he heard that unmistakable laugh. Turning, he saw Ross dressed in a black suit, white s.h.i.+rt, and thinly knotted black tie at a table in the back. He was facing away from the door and hadn't seen Noah come in. In spite of the fact that Noah had been looking for him most of the day, he was surprised to actually find him. Noah wasted no time striding over to the table.

Ross looked up as Noah's booted steps stopped across the table from his chair. Ross had a thin cigar clenched between his teeth, his manner conveying his usual impeccable appearance. His face darkened when he saw Noah, but he remained seated.

Noah looked around at the other occupants at the table. "Excuse me, fellas, but I need to borrow one of your players for a moment." He looked at Ross. "I need to speak to you, Ross. Let's step outside."

Ross smiled. "What kind of fool do you take me for, Wesley? I don't think so."

Noah wasn't in the mood for this. Meaningfully patting the pistol dangling from his side, he ground out, "We have unsettled business to finish. Let's go."

The other men at the table were held frozen, eyes wide and wondering. Ross just smirked at Noah. "If you shoot me, you will never get the answers to your questions." Slowly, he rose to face Noah. "Tell you what, buddy. Elizabeth is a pretty piece of skirt, but she's not worth this much of my time. I'm sick of this town and sick of seeing you, so tell me what you want to know."

"Not here. Let's take it outside."

One of the other players started to guffaw, but when Noah turned his steely gaze on him, he stopped abruptly.

Ross shrugged as if he didn't care and rose. Noah turned toward the door. It shouldn't have come as a surprise when he felt the knifepoint in his back and heard Ross say breathlessly, "I'd rather not kill you in front of all these people, so I've decided I will go outside with you. Now walk."

Noah took one step as if in acceptance and then, leaning forward away from the knifepoint, he kicked back, hitting Ross in the knee and causing him to fall back. He turned swiftly, as Ross recovered and came at him with the knife. The man might be smaller than Noah, but he was quick and wiry, and Noah had to keep his eyes on the blade darting close to his face.

A crowd spread out around them, jeering and cheering, picking sides and laying bets. A side argument broke out between two other men and soon they were brawling in another corner of the room. Noah had just reached for his gun, thinking to shoot in the air, when a big man b.u.mped him and sent the gun flying across the room. Great, now he would have to disarm Ross. Noah hated knives. Concentrating on the s.h.i.+ny metal, he lashed out and landed a hard blow to Ross's shoulder, knocking the knife from Ross's hand. Just when it looked like he had gained the upper hand, two other men jumped into the fight. Noah pushed one of them back onto a table, cras.h.i.+ng it to pieces, while the other man was hurled into a cheap mirror on the wall, sending a shower of gla.s.s to the floor.

The crash was like a signal, and the fight became a free-forall. Every man in the place dove into the fray, sending bottles and furniture and gla.s.s flying around the room. In the midst of it all, Noah lost sight of Ross. He pushed and punched and shoved his way around the room, trying to find him, but Ross had disappeared. Finally, Noah was able to force his way to the door and out into the bright sunlight. He shook his head to clear the fuzziness, wondering if his face was cut up bad; he could feel blood running down from a busted eyebrow. His right eye was swelling fast and his bottom lip was cut, but aside from that, he seemed to be in one piece. Lumbering down the sidewalk, he scanned the street for Ross. As he pa.s.sed an alley, he glanced down it, turned to walk away, then felt a muzzle of cold steel in his back.

"This time, we'll finish this," a voice hissed.

The gun, his gun he suspected, was shoved into his back, and, for a moment, Noah thought this was it.

"Turn around, slowly, and start walking toward that grove of trees outside of town. No tricks this time, Wesley. If I see one suspicious move, I'll blow you away in front of the whole town. Now walk."

Noah walked. As Ross pushed them deeper into the brush and farther from Dawson City, Noah tried to come up with a plan. This man, with his smooth exterior and handsome face, had the core of a serpent. Noah was not looking forward to what was coming. He had seen Ross's kind before, the type that enjoyed watching living beings suffer, whether animal or human, friend or foe. He knew Ross derived some kind of sick excitement from seeing fear and pain in others. With this in mind, he buried his apprehensions and took on the careless demeanor of his good friend Jacko. Jacko was a different kind of devil. The kind that had no sense at all, as far as Noah was concerned. He laughed in the face of danger and scoffed at mortality. He wouldn't have even recognized Ross's sinister soul and would, in turn, be outrageously c.o.c.k-sure.

Noah smiled to himself as he trudged through the increasingly thick brush and thought to borrow a little of his friend's bravado. "Since you're going to put a bullet through me, Ross, you may as well tell me what you know about Elizabeth."

Ross jabbed the gun in his back. "Keep moving. And don't worry about your precious Elizabeth. She'll be in good hands."

Noah swallowed. "What are you going to do with her?"

Ross laughed. "I thought I already made that clear." He paused. "But, if you want details to take to your grave, I'll be happy to oblige." He laughed again and Noah felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise up.

Shrugging, Noah said, "Sure, if you want, but that wasn't what I was referring to. I know you're smart, Ross, and smart men don't track a woman thousands of miles just for s.e.x. You're holding out on me. What else do you want with Elizabeth?"

Ross chuckled and pushed Noah toward a fallen tree, motioning for him to sit down. While holding the gun steady on Noah, Ross pulled a cigar out of his pocket and lit it. Puffing several times to get it going, he contemplated the big man. "You poor sod. She's had you in knots since you first laid eyes on her, hasn't she?" He didn't wait for an answer. "I remember the first time I saw her. She was coming out of a little dress shop, looking very prim and proper. I remember being surprised she was such a pretty little thing." He smirked. "If you could have seen those awful people who raised her, you would know why." Sniffing, he took another puff on his cigar, his elegant fingers extended. "They were horrid, backward people. Anyway, I put on my best charming manner and set out to win her. I hadn't planned on seducing her when I first took the investigation, but after seeing her," he raised his brows twice at Noah, "well I'm sure you, of all people, can see why I decided to change my plans. She is so delectable." He paced a little, the gun growing slack in his hand as he warmed to the subject. "The really funny thing is that she made it so easy. Under that prim dress lay the reckless heart of a dreamer. She wanted to go to Alaska and," he lifted his arms wide for a moment, "partic.i.p.ate in the great gold rush going on here. She was barely scratching out a living, near starvation she was so thin. You should have seen how she dreamed of gold, how she positively glowed when she talked about it. She was feverish with it. So, the seduction took a business turn. She wasn't interested in flattery and fine manners like most girls. Not coy or shy either. She needed fare to Alaska and I offered it. Not for free, of course, but then I told you how she was to pay me."

Noah ignored his feelings and said with deadly calm, "You were never going to give her the money though, were you? No matter how many times she a"

Ross bared his white even teeth, perfect like the rest of his appearance. "Eventually. I was hired by Margaret and Henry Dunning, her parents. I would have wired them the moment I tired of her and collected my money, which I must say is amazingly substantial considering the looks of them."

Noah scowled at him. "Elizabeth's parents are dead."

Ross c.o.c.ked his head and smirked at him. "Are they? Have you believed everything she has told you? You poor, besotted fool." He flicked an ash and continued with relish. "Elizabeth was raised an orphan until the aforementioned Dunnings adopted her." He showed his teeth again. "She was better off in the orphanage than with them, I a.s.sure you."

Noah tried to keep his boiling emotions at a simmer. He took a breath and then asked evenly, "What do her parents want with her now?"

Ross smiled and walked closer. "That's the best joke of all. Elizabeth is terrified of them, probably that claim-jumping business, but that's not the reason the Dunnings are looking for her. If Elizabeth only knew, she would have never come to this G.o.d-forsaken country."

Ross leaned down, his elbows braced on his thighs, the gun dangling unheeded from the tips of his fingers between his knees. As much as Noah wanted to ask, as badly as he needed to know what the Dunnings wanted with his future wife, he knew that the time would never be better. Ross could move away at any moment, destroying this opportunity. With lightning quickness, he kicked the gun out of Ross's hands and rolled toward it. They both scrambled for the gun in the tangled weeds. Ross reached it first and, c.o.c.king it, turned it toward Noah who was right on top of him. They rolled, struggling for control of the gun. Noah was larger by far, but Ross possessed an evil strength. With a jerk, Ross wrenched the gun away, slithered from under Noah, and stood. He quickly aimed at Noah, breathing hard, his face a mask of rage.

Noah was rising and jerked as the gun went off. He mentally searched for pain and found none. Ross was pointing the gun at him again.

"You missed," Noah said simply as he dove for the arm holding the gun, wrestling Ross back to the ground. It went off again and then skidded away into the gra.s.s. Noah put his hands around Ross's neck, demanding, "Tell me. Tell me everything."

Ross stared back at him with blank eyes. Noah watched in stunned stillness as the thin man stopped breathing. He scrambled off Ross, seeing for the first time a large red stain spreading across the white s.h.i.+rt. Somehow a someway a Ross had been shot. Noah had not pulled the trigger.

Now he might never know why her adoptive parents were looking for her. Now he would have to find them.

"NOAH WESLEY? " A voice called out.

He had just left the Canadian Police Headquarters, having given full details of the accident to a grim-faced Mountie. He turned and s.h.i.+elded his eyes against the sun to see William Cleary and the twins walking up the main street.

"That is you, isn't it?"

Noah stopped and waited until they reached him. Nodding, he held out his hand and said, "Pastor Cleary, it's good to see you." Turning to the twins, he regarded them. "This must be Ben and Josh. Elizabeth has told me about you. She'll be glad to see you."

"Did she get a claim?" Ben asked excitedly.

"Has she struck gold?" Josh chimed in.

Noah couldn't resist a grin. They had gold fever as bad as Elizabeth. "Yes, she managed to get hold of a claim. If you boys want to come back with me, you can see her and take a look at it. As for the gold, she's no doubt panning right now, so who knows what we'll find when we get there."

The twins enthusiastically agreed and went to find the Recorder's Office to check on any new openings. After they left, William Cleary fell in step beside Noah as they walked toward Noah's raft.

"We haven't seen a sign of that Ross fella since you two left us. Have you seen him?"

Noah nodded solemnly. "Yes, I've seen him."

William looked grave. "If your face is any indication of the encounter, I'd guess it didn't go very well. Do you know what he wants with Elizabeth?

Noah shrugged and turned away from the man's direct gaze. "He came to our camp last night and nearly took Elizabeth at gunpoint. I a I just had a fight with him." Noah looked into the preacher's eyes and sighed heavily. "He was going to kill me, and while I was trying to wrestle the gun away from him, he was shot. Ross is dead."

The preacher inhaled sharply and looked up toward heaven. "Does Elizabeth know yet?"

"Not yet. I'll tell her when we get back to camp. Could you come too? I think she would like to see you."

"Of course. The twins and I have been very concerned for her. It's terrible, but at least now she no longer has that threat hanging over her." He sighed, looking at Noah. "There are others, though, aren't there?"

Noah only nodded and guided the preacher over to the raft.

It was a good thing demon fighting was fast becoming his specialty.

April 22, 1898 Dear Mrs. Rhodes, It is my great joy to send you the enclosed letter from Margaret and Henry Dunning. The advertis.e.m.e.nts have gleaned many letters over the years, but I feel this is the one we have been waiting for. I believe, dear ma'am, that we have found your daughter in the far west. I will await your further instructions. Please write or telegraph soon.

I remain your devoted servant.

Sincerely yours, Jeremiah Hoglesby.

Private Detective for Hire.